The development of padel through competition?

Today we can estimate at the number of 3000 players of padel classified (man 88% and woman 12%) out of a global volume of 20.000 individuals.

The interest in competition for center and club managers is estimated at more than 80% for players from padel who are less interested in competition.

Nevertheless, the increase of homologated competitions tends to increase, between the 2015 season and April 2017, the number of homologated competitions has passed from 19 to 244 distributed in the following way (140 gentlemen, 82 ladies, 22 mixed).

The categories of tournaments in France and the role of the FFT in tournaments

There are several categories of tournaments which are determined according to the prize money. We can find from one to three categories: men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. Mixed doubles is not approved and does not give rise to a ranking.

Depending on the category of the event, a minimum number of teams must register for the event to be approved:

- P 100 (Padel 100): prize money from 0 € to 249 € 4 teams minimum

- P 250 (Padel 250): prize money from 250 € to 499 € 4 teams minimum

- P 500 (Padel 500): prize money from 500 € to 999 € 8 teams minimum.

- P 1000 (Padel 1000): prize money of 1000 € and more

Men: 16 minimum teams, selected thanks to the classification.

Women: 12 minimum teams, selected thanks to the ranking

The FFT plays a key role in the development of competitions, we can take the case of several events that bring together tournaments.

Babolat for example is the partner of "my padel tour ”which brings together 8 P1000 tournaments which take place from mid-March until December.

The circuit padel infinity tour meanwhile organizes tournaments in the southwest. These are less prestigious tournaments in terms of points but they allow you to play regularly every month.

Alexandre Cifuentes

Alexandre Cifuentes studies economics. He decided to intervene on the business of padel and in the sports market in general. It allows us to know about the padel in its entirety.